If you are right, and you do make a plausible case, then I am relieved.
[In reply to]

Can't Post

My fear was that the studio had objected to the draft script and insisted on changes which GDT et al resisted and that compromises had to be brokered and that the delay was due to that process and the subsequent compromising of the script.

My major fear was the insertion of some romantic interest. A long legged blonde bimbo for Bilbo? (Sorry folks the sentence just came out) or Thorin??? For some reason I could tolerate Bard with a wife or future wife so long as she didn't get any of his major speeches (and it was done well).

I have this horrific fantasy of a studio executive pointing out to the "creative arm of the enterprise" (That's GDT et al to you and me) that at least one romantic liaison "would provide proactive market potential for our targeted demographic going forward".

I'm so pleased that it looks like it's just money. If that's the case then there's still a chance that I'll get a film I'll enjoy seeing. That is if I survive long enough. I do want Ian McKellen to be Gandalf and, as you say, if it takes a while for them to sort it out he may, like me and Ian Holm and Christopher Lee, find Anno Domini catching up with him before they get their acts together.